2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA
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@antipodean said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
A "solution" that has a Lions tour playing shit SR teams with no relation to the nominal host country in lead up to the Tests is terrible.
oh wait, in true Fern fashion i didn't read the article. Are they thinking about playing the Boks here?
because that's retarded.
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@bovidae said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
The proposal to move the Lions tour to the UK had the SA provinces playing their scheduled games against the Lions there too. That seems like a much more attractive option for SA rugby, as it's not just about the test matches.
No way they could afford to fly, quarantine, etc 5 or 6 extra teams over for that, it is not going to happen. The simple fact is, Covid has fucked Uk and SA, and if the Lions and SA want to make some money it is Oz. Admitedly the UK is on the up with their vaccine roll out, so maybe they could play there. In which case it is probably the Boks that need the warm up games!
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@mariner4life said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
@antipodean said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
A "solution" that has a Lions tour playing shit SR teams with no relation to the nominal host country in lead up to the Tests is terrible.
oh wait, in true Fern fashion i didn't read the article. Are they thinking about playing the Boks here?
because that's retarded.
Yup it is that or no crowds and big losses. SA can't afford it, neither can the Lions, and they aren't playing next year and no way Ozzie will let SA just take the next Lions slot in 2025. It is shit, but Covid has given the world a shit sandwich.
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@machpants said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
@bovidae said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
The proposal to move the Lions tour to the UK had the SA provinces playing their scheduled games against the Lions there too. That seems like a much more attractive option for SA rugby, as it's not just about the test matches.
No way they could afford to fly, quarantine, etc 5 or 6 extra teams over for that, it is not going to happen. The simple fact is, Covid has fucked Uk and SA, and if the Lions and SA want to make some money it is Oz. Admitedly the UK is on the up with their vaccine roll out, so maybe they could play there. In which case it is probably the Boks that need the warm up games!
I doubt full stadiums in the UK will happen in time. Situation is improving with vaccination but there are still over 10,000 new cases a day. Furthermore, the Lions players when asked were not keen on the UK/ Ireland option and would prefer to tour.
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@sparky said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
Delaying is not an option, looks unlikely the games will happen in SA or the UK and Ireland with crowds. That leaves Australia with tests in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney as the best option. Time of games will be perfect for UK TV viewing too.
I understand McLennan's approach; he's looking for revenue and media generating opportunities given the shit state RA is in. But I doubt Perth would get a game - the Premier of WA is a flog of monumental proportions. He shut down Perth for five days because of one covid case. One. You're not getting crowds to a game over there.
Not sure the scheduling is right for tv over there either given Sydney is currently 11 hours ahead.
And I come back to the ridiculousness of playing against South Africa by playing against Australian SR teams.
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Speaking to a coach at a local rugby club. Is all over the Aussie idea, thinks it's a great one. Was quite surprised.
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@machpants said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
@bovidae said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
The proposal to move the Lions tour to the UK had the SA provinces playing their scheduled games against the Lions there too. That seems like a much more attractive option for SA rugby, as it's not just about the test matches.
No way they could afford to fly, quarantine, etc 5 or 6 extra teams over for that, it is not going to happen. The simple fact is, Covid has fucked Uk and SA, and if the Lions and SA want to make some money it is Oz. Admitedly the UK is on the up with their vaccine roll out, so maybe they could play there. In which case it is probably the Boks that need the warm up games!
But what money will it make? That's the thing I don't get. There will be no tour groups, no travelling fans & subsequently no little boom for hotels etc. Broadcast revenue will be less due to the time zone (remember UK & SA are basically the same) so that more or less just leaves ticket sales. And that needs to offset the extra value in broadcast rights in UK / SA. The only people absolutely filling their boots will be the local pubs / bars in Oz .. and they ain't going to shift their profits to SA are they!
The 3 tests will get massive crowds at a good price. Say 150 a ticket, 60k average thats good ... thats 27 mill. Lets be honest, the super matches are unlikely to turn a profit without travelling fans. So how much will be costs, and how much will SA get? I can't see it being an more than 10mill AUD.
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The prospect of the British and Irish Lions proceeding with their tour of South Africa as scheduled this summer remains a live option after officials requested more information on Friday (Saturday NZT) and time before making a final call. The only firm decision taken by the eight-man Lions board, which is chaired by Jason Leonard, was to rule out the option of relocating the tour to Australia. Rugby Australia had made a bold offer to host the eight-match series Down Under, including the promise of capacity crowds for three test matches to be played at major stadiums in Perth, Sydney and Brisbane, given the almost zero community transmission of the virus in the country. However, it is understood that Rugby Australia's offer of a minimum guarantee to cover the costs of relocating the tour and the loss of revenue in the event of a short-notice lockdown was not enough to make it a viable option. There was also concern about the guarantee of capacity crowds. Rugby Australia had been dealing directly with the South African Rugby Union, as tour host, but the Lions board also decided to turn down the offer. (...) -
@majorrage said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
@machpants said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
@bovidae said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
The proposal to move the Lions tour to the UK had the SA provinces playing their scheduled games against the Lions there too. That seems like a much more attractive option for SA rugby, as it's not just about the test matches.
No way they could afford to fly, quarantine, etc 5 or 6 extra teams over for that, it is not going to happen. The simple fact is, Covid has fucked Uk and SA, and if the Lions and SA want to make some money it is Oz. Admitedly the UK is on the up with their vaccine roll out, so maybe they could play there. In which case it is probably the Boks that need the warm up games!
But what money will it make? That's the thing I don't get. There will be no tour groups, no travelling fans & subsequently no little boom for hotels etc. Broadcast revenue will be less due to the time zone (remember UK & SA are basically the same) so that more or less just leaves ticket sales. And that needs to offset the extra value in broadcast rights in UK / SA. The only people absolutely filling their boots will be the local pubs / bars in Oz .. and they ain't going to shift their profits to SA are they!
The 3 tests will get massive crowds at a good price. Say 150 a ticket, 60k average thats good ... thats 27 mill. Lets be honest, the super matches are unlikely to turn a profit without travelling fans. So how much will be costs, and how much will SA get? I can't see it being an more than 10mill AUD.
Not a surprise they decided against it, just to uncertain. Even though covid is well under control here in Aus, and the vaccine roll out will be under way by then, there's still no certainty. Just takes one small outbreak in Sydney for stadium capacity to be halved and WA to close the borders for a month.
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Given Boris has said we're fully open in the UK from June, can't it work in the UK with fans now? The tests were originally scheduled for July so there's a few weeks wiggle room. Probably not worth the SA provincial sides coming over but I'm sure they can get warm up games against local premiership sides, or an SA exiles/barbarians team
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@tewaio said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
Given Boris has said we're fully open in the UK from June, can't it work in the UK with fans now? The tests were originally scheduled for July so there's a few weeks wiggle room. Probably not worth the SA provincial sides coming over but I'm sure they can get warm up games against local premiership sides, or an SA exiles/barbarians team
My flabber will be gasted if we’re fully open in June
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I'm not living in the UK any more, but from what I hear Boris has as much awareness and control of the situation as a boysenberry in a juice bar. Things are definitely moving in a very positive direction, but like Mike I'll be surprised if they can have anything like 100% capacity. And I think Boris only controls England (in terms of restrictions), the Welsh, Scots and Irish will all have their own.
England more than capable of hosting it alone of course, but feels like if we are going to have a "home tour" it should cover all 4 nations.
On that subject, 4 home nations but 3 tests - who misses out on housting one? Wpuld make sense to extend it to 4 tests I guess, given that there won't be provincial matches.
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Sparky's Lions
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Jones (Wales)
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Owens. (Wales)
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Furlong (Ireland)
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Henderson (Ireland)
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Wyn Jones (Captain) (Wales)
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Navindi (Wales)
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Underhill (England), if fit, or Watson (Scotland)
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Faletu (Wales)
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Murray (Ireland)
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Russell (Scotland)
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May (England)
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Davies (Wales), maybe Aki (Ireland)
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Tuilagi (England), if fit, or North (Wales)
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Rees- Zammitt (Wales)
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Hogg (Scotland)
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George (England)
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M Vunapola (England)
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Francis (Wales)
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Gray (Scotland)
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Sandler (Ireland)
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Youngs (England)
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Sexton (Ireland)
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Liam Williams (Wales)
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@sparky said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
Sparky's Lions
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Jones (Wales)
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Owens. (Wales)
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Furlong (Ireland)
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Henderson (Ireland)
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Wyn Jones (Captain) (Wales)
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Navindi (Wales)
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Underhill (England), if fit, or Watson (Scotland)
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Faletu (Wales)
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Murray (Ireland)
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Russell (Scotland)
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May (England)
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Davies (Wales), maybe Aki (Ireland)
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Tuilagi (England), if fit, or North (Wales)
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Rees- Zammitt (Wales)
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Hogg (Scotland)
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George (England)
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M Vunapola (England)
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Francis (Wales)
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Gray (Scotland)
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Sandler (Ireland)
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Youngs (England)
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Sexton (Ireland)
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Liam Williams (Wales)
May, Tuilagi, Youngs nowhere near the 23
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- Jones (Wales)
- Owens (Wales)
- Furlong (Ireland)
- Henderson (Ireland)
- Wyn Jones (Captain) (Wales)
- Beirne (Ireland)
- Watson (Scotland)
- Faletau (Wales)
- Murray (Ireland)
- Sexton (Ireland)
- Earls (Ireland)
- Henshaw (Ireland)
- North (Wales)
- Rees- Zammitt (Wales)
- Hogg (Scotland)
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@mikethesnow That looks about right. But if I were a Bok, I'd much rather be facing a starting 10 with Sexton's limited distribution skills and predictable than a mercurial, magician like Finn Russell.
I know Earls outplayed him yesterday (behind the much better pack) , but I still think Jonny May has more about his game.
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I can't remember a Lions year ever that's been this open in terms of selection. Normally there's 3 or 4 or 5 players that everyone would agree are nailed on for the test team, but this I can't think of a single one.
That's partly bad news - key players like Farrell and Itoje who you would have expected to be certainties having a dip in form - and partly good news - a lot of very good players in some positions. There are going to be some seriously good back rowers missing out on a jersey this year
